Best Point Cloud Processing Software for Linux of 2025

CloudCompare is a free and open-source software designed for processing 3D point clouds and triangular meshes. Initially created to facilitate the comparison of dense 3D point clouds, it has now transformed into a versatile solution for a wide range of 3D data processing activities. The application provides a variety of functionalities, including projection techniques, registration methods such as Iterative Closest Point (ICP), and calculations of distances between both clouds and meshes, along with statistical analysis, segmentation, and the estimation of geometric features. Users are able to manage multiple scalar fields associated with each point cloud, implement algorithms for smoothing and gradient evaluation, and visualize their data using dynamic color rendering options. The interactive tools included in the software make it easy to segment, rotate, translate, and measure 3D objects. CloudCompare is capable of supporting a wide array of input and output formats and is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Additionally, the software incorporates a plugin system that allows users to enhance its functionality further, making it a highly adaptable tool for 3D data analysis and visualization. With its growing community, users can benefit from continuous updates and a wealth of shared resources.

Agisoft Metashape is an independent software application that facilitates the photogrammetric analysis of digital images, creating 3D spatial data applicable in GIS, cultural heritage preservation, and visual effects, as well as enabling indirect measurements of various objects. Additionally, the Agisoft Cloud platform provides a cloud processing service for users with an Agisoft Account, allowing them to offload project processing to the cloud and reducing the need for significant hardware investments for photogrammetric workflows. This service enhances user experience by offering features such as online visualization of processing outcomes, options for sharing these results, and tools for generating embed codes to incorporate models into websites. The cloud service is available through a subscription model that includes charges for storage space and processing hours calculated on a per-minute basis. Ultimately, this integration of cloud services broadens the accessibility and efficiency of photogrammetric projects for professionals in various fields.

AWS Thinkbox Sequoia is an independent software solution designed for processing point clouds and creating meshes, functioning seamlessly across Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. This application supports a wide range of industry-standard formats for point cloud and mesh data, enabling the transformation of point cloud information into a compact, quickly accessible intermediate cache format. Sequoia is equipped with intelligent workflows that maintain high-precision data effectively, allowing users to visualize either the entire point cloud or a selected subset through adaptive view-dependent techniques. With this software, users have the capability to transform, cull, and edit point cloud data, as well as to generate meshes from those point clouds and optimize the resulting models. Additionally, Sequoia facilitates the projection of images onto both points and meshes, creating mesh vertex colors and supporting Ptex or UV-based textures derived from point cloud colors and image projections. The application can export the final meshes to various industry-standard mesh file formats and is integrated with Thinkbox Deadline, allowing for the processing of point cloud data conversion, meshing, and export across network nodes, making it a versatile tool for professionals in the field. Overall, AWS Thinkbox Sequoia stands out as a comprehensive solution for those looking to enhance their workflow in point cloud processing and meshing.

The open-source platform designed for the processing and editing of 3D triangular meshes offers an array of tools for various tasks, such as editing, cleaning, healing, inspecting, rendering, texturing, and converting these meshes. It includes capabilities for handling raw data generated by 3D digitization devices and for preparing models suitable for 3D printing applications. In the latest update, support has been added for multiple file formats (.gltf, .glb, .nxs, .nxz, .e57), along with the introduction of a new plugin dedicated to precise mesh boolean operations. A critical phase in the workflow for handling 3D scanned data is the 3D data alignment process, often referred to as registration. MeshLab equips users with robust tools to align various meshes within a unified reference framework, effectively managing extensive sets of range maps. Additionally, it features a finely-tuned Iterative Closest Point (ICP) algorithm for one-to-one alignment, which is complemented by a global bundle adjustment step to optimize error distribution. Users can perform this alignment on both meshes and point clouds obtained from a variety of sources, including active scanners, whether they operate over short or long ranges. This versatility enhances the overall functionality and effectiveness of the tool in 3D data processing.